Zeman and Babis meeting to discuss Foreign Minister position

President Miloš Zeman will meet Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (Ano) for a working lunch on Monday at which they are expected to discuss filling the post of foreign minister, now temporarily held by Social Democrat leader Jan Hamáček, who is also interior minister.

According to the daily Právo, Social Democrat Jakub Landovský, currently a deputy defence minister, could be named to the position. President Zeman last month refused to name the Ano-Social Democrat coalition government’s choice as foreign minister, Social Democrat MEP Miroslav Poche.

Hamáček had said the Social Democrats would not push for court action over the president’s refusal to appoint their nominee, preferring to resolve the matter through dialogue. His party is due to meet on Friday to discuss the situation.